Before driving a vehicle on the road, it is essential to get it registered first. Registering a vehicle with a government authority creates a link between a vehicle and its owner, which serves various purposes such as crime detection and taxation. Essentially, car registration provides evidence that you’ve paid the necessary taxes and fees that accompany owning and driving a vehicle. When purchasing a salvaged vehicle, there are a few extra hurdles during the registration process to be aware of. To learn about how to reregister a salvaged vehicle, continue reading.
Before we jump into talking about the process of how to reregister a salvage vehicle, let’s discuss why registering your vehicle is so important in the first place. For one, all vehicle owners are required by federal law to register their cars once a year. Failing to register your salvage vehicle and subsequently driving it on public property will likely result in a substantial fine and, depending on the circumstances, potential jail time.
As with any vehicle, the registration process for salvage vehicles will require owners to pay certain fees. Being aware of what these fees are and gathering the funds to pay them is an important step in the reregistration process. To ensure that you don’t embark on the process only to find that you don’t have the funds to fully reregister your salvage vehicle, make sure to check out the expected fees below.
It is important to note that the below listed fees are simply an estimate. The exact cost of vehicle registration will depend on a variety of factors, such as the state you are registering the vehicle in, the vehicle’s age, the vehicle’s model, and the vehicle’s make. Generally, newer cars cost more to register than older models.
Potential costs of reregistering a salvage vehicle:
The first step to reregistering your salvage title vehicle is to assess the damage it has received. If a vehicle is unsafe for the road, it can’t be registered. You must conduct the repairs necessary to ensure that the vehicle is safe enough to drive on the road.
Get your vehicle inspectedDon’t expect people to just take your word for it when you tell them your salvage title vehicle is safe to drive. You’re going to have to prove that your vehicle is roadworthy by taking it in to get a professional inspection. A standard vehicle inspection typically costs between $150 and $250.
To get your vehicle properly inspected, you will likely need to provide a set of forms, documentation, before and after photos, the vehicle’s title, and paperwork pertaining to your vehicle. Check your local DMV’s website to determine the exact information and documentation you’ll need to provide.
Salvage title vehicles aren’t considered legally roadworthy even if they have passed a vehicle inspection. As such, to get your vehicle registered and legally drive it on the road, you must first get the vehicle title legally changed to a rebuilt title. Changing the title from salvaged to rebuilt is also necessary in order to qualify for vehicle insurance.
To apply to change the title on your vehicle from salvage to rebuilt, you must pass a vehicle inspection and provide proof. In addition, you will also need to pay the necessary fees and fill out the required forms, which will vary depending on the state you register your vehicle in. Once you have successfully applied for a rebranded title, you will be issued a rebuilt title, and your salvage title will be legally cleared.
Upon legally changing the salvage title on your vehicle to rebuilt, you will then need to apply for vehicle registration. In order to do so, you must gather an array of necessary documents and certificates as well as money for the necessary fees listed above. The exact documentation that you will require will depend on the state that you’re reregistering your vehicle in.
To ensure that you have all the necessary materials, you should check your local DMV’s website before attempting to reregister your vehicle. That being said, here is a general guideline of materials that are typically required in order to reregister a vehicle that previously had a salvage title.
Once you have gathered the above information and completed the necessary steps outlined in this article, you are ready to reregister your salvage vehicle at the DMV.
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